Raghu Vir

Team to create framework for evaluating AI-based medical imaging

Artificial intelligence (AI) is showing promise in multiple medical imaging applications. Yet rigorous evaluation of these methods is important before they are introduced into clinical practice.

A multi-institutional and multiagency team led by researchers at Washington University is outlining a framework for objective task-based evaluation of AI-based methods and outlining the key role that physicians play in these evaluations. They also are providing techniques to conduct such evaluations, particularly in positron emission tomography (PET).

A key challenge to the team is attention to the primacy of ‘trustworthy AI.’ This paper lays down a rigorous framework for evaluating AI methods in the direction of improving this trust.

Read the full article: https://source.wustl.edu/2021/10/team-to-create-framework-for-evaluating-ai-based-medical-imaging/

Medical imaging is the essence of patient care

Medical imaging technologists are frontline workers and have had to endure the same pressures as other health care workers throughout the pandemic and deserve to be included alongside their peers. Thanks to multidisciplinary work that includes various players in the continuum of care, our hospitals, community service centers, medical clinics and medical imaging laboratories have succeeded in continuing to provide high-quality care.

A recent survey by the Central African Republic of its members showed that the number one obstacle to catching up on filming waiting lists is the shortage of technicians.
About 70% of respondents indicated that lack of human resources for medical imaging was the biggest obstacle to reducing waiting times.

Read the full article:
https://www.vaughantoday.ca/medical-imaging-is-the-essence-of-patient-care/

Cardiac MRI accurate for suspected cardiac tumor

Cardiac MRI demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy in patients with suspected cardiac tumors and may serve as a good independent predictor of long-term survival, researchers reported.
Expert consider CMR as a key diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients with suspected cardiac tumors
The present study is the largest imaging study to date for the diagnosis of cardiac tumor and confirms the high accuracy of CMR previously reported in smaller cohorts in whom cardiac tumors were known to be present

Read the full study:
https://www.healio.com/news/cardiology/20211008/cardiac-mri-accurate-for-suspected-cardiac-tumor-predictive-of-longterm-outcomes

Radiologists prefer a subspecialized reporting system

Back in January 2018, a Swiss health system retooled its workflow to create a centralized reporting network. The restructuring also created organ-based radiology teams and most radiologists were relocated from satellite facilities to the main hospital.
The thinking was that consolidated reporting would make life easier for imaging team members as well as referring physicians. After sending out 400 questionnaires to assess the project, researchers found that more than 95% of radiologists preferred the update.

Read the entire study here.

4D flow imaging as a predictive tool for aortic disease

4D flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the potential to identify patients with a higher risk of severe complications from aortic degeneration Northwestern Medicine study published. The study employed a new 4D flow MRI heatmap concept to detect abnormal aortic wall shear stress, a known stimulus for arterial wall dysfunction.

This publication showcases data to validate 4D flow imaging as a clinical predictive tool for bicuspid aortopathy. Clinicians can use this imaging tool and biomarker to help be more precise about prophylactic aortic resection.

Read more: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210913/Study-suggests-4D-flow-imaging-as-a-clinical-predictive-tool-for-aortic-disease.aspx

Experts give top tips on how to succeed in breast imaging

What personal qualities and attributes do you need to achieve success in breast imaging? How should you approach artificial intelligence (AI)? How can you conduct better research projects? And what can be said about the future?

Committee members of the Young Club of the European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) put these questions to 11 senior officials and members of the organization. The experts were asked to give their answers in the form of three top tips.

Find out what their tips are: https://www.auntminnieeurope.com/index.aspx?sec=ser&sub=def&pag=dis&ItemID=620563

6 issues radiology must address after COVID-19

A panel at the Association of University Radiologists(AUR) identified six themes that the radiology industry must address post COVID-19.

1. Individual and organizational resilience.
2. Patient care disparities and inequities.
3. Telehealth and remote work functionality.
4. Prioritizing innovations and technological advances.
5. Determining societal responsibility of radiology practices and industry.
6. Need for business models that support partnerships between academia and industry.

New PET imaging agent alters prostate cancer plan for more than 40% of patients

A recently developed PET imaging agent is earning praise following positive clinical trial results in men with high-risk prostate cancer.

North Billerica, Massachusetts-based Lantheus presented early findings from a study at the recent American Urological Association virtual meeting. The PSMA-targeted agent—piflufolastat F-18—detected disease that had spread outside the prostate in nearly one-third of men.

Additionally, an independent, retrospective review showed the imaging agent led to possible changes in care management strategy for 43.6% of patients, including decisions regarding surgery or radiation therapy.

Read more: https://www.healthimaging.com/topics/molecular/pet-agent-alters-prostate-cancer-plan